Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said it's up to Sestak to say more about allegations the administration offered him a job.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) should explain more about allegations the White House offered him a job in exchange for dropping out of the Pennsylvania Senate race, a top Senate Democrat said Tuesday.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the onus is on Sestak to say more about the offer he claimed to have received from the Obama administration in exchange for dropping his primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.).

"At some point, I think Congressman Sestak needs to make clear what happened," Durbin told reporters at the Capitol.

Republicans have put pressure on Sestak and the White House to explain more about their conversations, led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Goverment Reform Committee, who has suggested a criminal probe in the matter.

Durbin said the responsibility falls with Sestak  not the White House  to explain, because Sestak, Durbin said, "raised the issue."

Durbin is arguably the highest-profile Democrat to call for more information in the incident. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) urged the White House on Monday to disclose what it knows.

"The only thing I heard was Axelrod said that nothing inappropriate took place," Durbin said, referencing White House senior advisor David Axelrod.

Durbin is right: Sestak made the accusation, and it's time for him to step up and substantiate it.

If he doesn't do so, this cloud is going to hang over his head. His Republican opponent can rightly ask: "who is Sestak protecting?" He can also ask: "Did it really happen, or did Sestak just make it up for political gain?"

Sestak has already poisoned his relationship with the Obama administration, so he doesn't lose anything with full disclosure. If anything, he'll establish himself as independent from the administration -- which will certainly help him in November.

15
posted on 05/25/2010 10:12:05 AM PDT
by justlurking
(The only remedy for a bad guy with a gun is a good WOMAN (Sgt. Kimberly Munley) with a gun)

Do you mean Sestak will withdraw, and the party committee will then nominate Specter?

Maybe not Specter but some high-profile PA Democrat, instead. Specter's damaged goods, and Toomey would crush him (the only negative on Sestak winning the primary, honestly, is that he stands a better chance against Toomey than Specter did).

In any event, after a brief period of waiting, Sestak will then get a cushy but minor government job that doesn't require Senate "advise and consent". (Or a similarly cushy lobbying job.)

The group at risk here is DoJ. On top of the Black Panthers, Arizona and poor CT work they now have this “pants around ankle” issue. Holder is a puppet and its clear to the media...even the left wing media.

The Dems on the Hill need to cover their butts before Nov and the White House wants to stall...rats will fight on this and the media is now angry enough to cover it.

I’ve told you guys, Democrats are going to be hammered in December, and it will be Democrats that survive the purge that will be pushing for Fauxbama’s impeachment next year, as they try desperately to save their party from what this man and his minions are doing to it.

It does matter. It is a felony to do what he says they did. This could potentially be the biggest issue over the summer. Even though it is probably done every day; the beneficiary of the offer is supposed to keep his (or her) mouth shut. Sestak blew it months ago and is smart enough not to deny it.

That is why Durbin and others are getting on the right side of the issue. My guess is Rahm is all over this and many in Congress have had enough of his tactics and want him gone. This is their way to get rid of him. I'm sure they will keep Obama out of this.

I don’t see this as Durbin doing anything to bring clarity on this. If Durbin sincerely gives crap about getting to the truth he will call for an investigation. He doesn’t want that, he just wants to posture.

27
posted on 05/25/2010 10:25:07 AM PDT
by Made In The USA
(Home Depot should begin stocking up on pitchforks and torches.)

Whatever happens it’s daydreaming to think that Obama will take the fall. If they don’t completely destroy Sestak, they’ll find some flunky to throw under the bus and Obama will deny all knowledge of any wrongdoing.

Dems wanting answers....the political winds must be blowing in the wrong direction. Maybe they are starting to figure out Obama is not going to lead them to the promised land. Right now he is leading them over a cliff.

"If he doesn't do so, this cloud is going to hang over his head. His Republican opponent can rightly ask: "who is Sestak protecting?" He can also ask: "Did it really happen, or did Sestak just make it up for political gain?""

I'm having a hard time imagining what motive Sestak would have had to make up this allegation, which is why I'm inclined to believe him. But if it was just a verbal, "ears only," offer, he'd have no proof. Maybe the Dems already have been assured that's the case, so they are pretending to be forthright in asking for proof they know doesn't exist. It will make Sestak look bad, but they'd rather lose his seat than have the White House involved in a potentially impeachable scandal.

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